PHOTO REPORT: Feed Design Lab

The Feed Design Lab (FDL) is an independent innovation centre in Wanssum, the Netherlands. It focuses on the development of a test facility with state-of-the-art feed production equipment and technology, a Training Center for practical and theoretical education on animal feed technology and the creation of a Community where companies in the feed value chain, government, education and research can network and develop a sustainable animal protein production chain by 2020.

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The Feed Design Lab (FDL), Wanssum, the Netherlands

Some tape is still wrapped around the brand new feed equipment, waiting to be removed to start making the actual feed and start experimenting with different ingredients. Maximum capacity of Feed Design Lab is 1000kg per hour

Around 10 machines have been installed in FDL. Pictures is the dryer at the bottom of the plant.

Feed Design Lab consists of four floors and three different lines. Most of the equipment operates individually to be as flexible as possible. Open spaces and transparency make the plant light and pleasant to work in.

A group of ‘Young Feed Professionals’, a community from Feed Design Lab for people under 40 years of age working in the animal feed industry, already got a sneak preview of the feed plant a few days before the official kick-off.

On the 4th floor of Feed Design Lab.

Mixing and grinding.

Extruder.

Sifting.

Conditioning.

The paddle plates inside the conditioner.

A representative from the company Dinnissen explains how the machinery works.

Mixing.

Pelletiser and one of the dies that is used.

FDL also serves as an important hub for people that what to train and educate themselves. There are also partnerships with agricultural schools.

Drying.

How to get wet algae in animal pellets and is there a clever way to include meal worms in feed for layers and broilers? These are some of the research themes that FDL will work on in the coming months.

Inclusion of insects in feed will be explored. FDL will invest in gaining knowledge on the processing, transportation and storage of feed with insects in them.

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